Danah Alleyne to get youth award

Danah Alleyne to get youth award

FAMILY members of 15-year-old teenager Danah Alleyne are once again up in arms, after she was conferred with what they now see as a controversial award by Choc'late Allen, leader of the 100% Crime Free Youth Committee.

Allen yesterday told the Express that her committee had decided to name Alleyne as one of the recipients of a "Youth Motivator Award".

Alleyne, cricketer Adrian Barath and academic achiever Veera Bhajan were among six youths due to receive awards and a financial contribution for "being a source of inspiration and motivation to the nation", Allen told the Express yesterday.

The award ceremony is to be held at the Valpark Chinese Restaurant in Valsayn on July 17, Alleyne added.

Alleyne caught public attention after engaging in a lewd dancing act with R&B/Hip Hop singer Akon at the Zen nightclub in April. The incident sparked national outrage and prompted even Prime Minister Patrick Manning to comment on the issue.

Asked why the committee had decided to select the Central resident, Allen said it was because "she was the most courageous person for the first half of 2007".

However, the decision sparked an angry response from Alleyne's brother, Ian.

"Why should Danah receive an award? What she did was an embarrassment to her family, to the church," he said when contacted by the Express yesterday.

"In fact, Danah doesn't want an award. We are trying to move on and she is concentrating on her academic studies. Choc'late should give awards to the top ten achievers in the SEA exam."

One child psychiatrist said no matter what the reason may be for giving an award to Alleyne, Choc'late's committee should have waited a little longer, since the incident is still fresh in everyone's mind.

He said giving an award to Alleyne now could set a bad precedent for other young women. Many also criticised Allen and the committee, comprising ten girls under the age of 16, for promoting double standards among youths.

I'm not an entertainer...but I play one on de internet. Any (of legal age) young lady want tuh come grine on me fuh ah award hit mih up in PMs fast...somewhere out there there's a plaque wid yuh name on it.